This catalogue collects, in one place, summaries of reported
observations of UFOs by aircraft crews, air traffic controllers or airline
passengers within or from Australia. It has been prepared by combing the
files of Australian UFO research groups, their magazines and Journals, and the
files of the RAAF.

The format for each summary is firstly a catalogue reference
number, then date, location and time of event. The case abstract is followed by
a reference section. The original source/investigator of the case is
presented first. If there is a widely available published version of the
event this may also be given. In some cases a group's case reference
number may be given. No attempt has been made to provide all published
references to a specific case. Where the case was located in RAAF files
and the RAAF cited their explanation, this is provided inside [ ].

If the reader requires further information on a particular case
they should contact the original source directly.

Acknowledgement

I would like to acknowledge the work of the large number of
Australian UFO researchers, who over the years, have investigated and published
details on the reports which are summarised in this catalogue. One or more
sources are cited for each report.

THE CATALOGUE

1944 Bass Strait

Mr T. R. H. Royal was piloting a Beaufort bomber over Bass Strait
when a dark "shadow" appeared alongside and kept pace for eighteen to twenty
minutes. The object seemed to have a flickering light, and belched flames
from its rear end. It maintained a distance of thirty to fifty meters from
the aircraft before accelerating away. During the event all radio and
direction finding equipment is said to have malfunctioned.

(The Australian Saucer Record, 1957. 3(1):16.)

The Disclosure Australia Project's researcher in
Canberra went to the National Archives and obtained permission to inspect Mr
Royal's personal service records. These records indicated that he was with No 1
O.T.U. (Operational Training Unit) in early February 1944. However, there
was no record of his name in the Squadron Dairies or any indication that he had
flown over Bass Straight. He was a Non-Commissioned Officer Pilot.

The only mention of his name was when he was with No. 8 SQN in September
1945 where he flew his first sortie on the 30 September 1945 on an unarmed
reconnaissance mission over the Sepic River area in Papua New Guinea. This
information came from the RAAF Historical Records, Russell Offices in Canberra.

(Disclosure Australia Project Newsletter, 12 April 2004)

7 Feb 1951 East Sale Vic 2330hrs 2.5mins 1M Mackenzie

Air to air visual sighting by Flt lt A E Mackenzie of a brilliant
light.

(p168 of RAAF file B5758 5/6/Air part 1)

14 Aug 1952 Townsville Qld 1200hrs 1M Scott

Letter from chief test pilot W. Scott C.A.F. reporting that on
14/8/52 while flying to Townsville at 35,000 feet at 1200hrs. He saw a large
incandescent light below him. Six to ten smaller lights came from the large
light surrounded it then all lights disappeared. Duration one minute.

(RAAF file B5758 5/6/Air part 1)

Ca. Jul 1952 Near Sydney NSW 2300hrs

Captain Bob Jackson of ANA, with more than 8000 flying hours, was
flying near Worinora Dam when he suddenly saw a flash of light. He watched an
object with an orange tail flash past towards the coast. Air Traffic Control did
not have any radar contact with the object. About two minutes later the object
re-appeared, circled the aircraft, and then vanished towards the coast.

(Melbourne Sun, Jan 5, 1954.)

Prior to 1953 Canberra ACT

TAA pilot Gordon Savage and First Officer F.E. Hastilow sighted a
very powerful bright white light to the east of their aircraft. At fifteen
second intervals it changed to red. Savage climbed the plane to 5000 feet for a
better look. Savage later believed they had been observing the planet Venus but
Hastilow disagreed.

(Australasian Post, Dec 31 1953. p10.)

1953 Mackay Qld

Captain B. L. Jones is reported to have seen an object over
Mackay. His report was confirmed by observers at the Mackay control tower.
All described the object as having a transparent "glass dome."

(Melbourne Sun, Jan 5 1954)

14 Oct 1953 Essendon Vic 1910hrs 2mins 1M Taylor

Captain Taylor, ANA pilot based at Essendon reports a visual air
to air sighting of a moving white light.

(pp165-166 of RAAF file B5758 5/6/Air part 1)

Jul 1954 Lubek Vic 1 min 1M Roberts

Civilian pilot Roberts while flying to Lubeck saw a bright red
light that disappeared to the north. No other aircraft reported in the vicinity.

(RAAF file B5758 5/6/Air part 1 p79.)

31 Aug 1954 Goulburn NSW

Lt O'Farrell was flying a Sea Fury aircraft, and noticed a very
bright light closing fast from the "1 o'clock" position. The light crossed ahead
of him, and continued to a position on his port beam where it appeared to orbit.
At the same time he noticed a second and similar light at "nine o'clock" which
made a pass ahead of him and then turned in the position where the first light
had been sighted. The pilot contacted Nowra radar who confirmed they had 3
echoes on screen. The two bright lights reformed at "nine o'clock" and
disappeared on a north-easterly heading.

Aircraft pilot reported an object with a bright green head and
white tail.

(Page 69 on digital copy of RAAF file 580/1/1 part 2)

15 Nov 1960 Cressy Tas

A USAF RB57 aircraft pilot noted an approaching object, whilst he
and a navigator were flying at 40,000 feet. Its altitude was estimated as 35,000
feet and its speed as high. Its closing rate was said to be greater than 800
knots. It was seen for five to seven seconds before it was lost to view under
the left wing. Its size was estimated as seventy feet in diameter. It had no
sharp edges and its was rather fuzzy and undefined.

Large object seen by crew of Neptune aircraft heading 160
degrees. "Streaked across sky from SSW to NE. Brilliant orange. Broke in two and
"leading portion assumed cone shape and accelerated ahead of tail further
disintegration took place before object disappeared."

First Officer on Ansett flight sighted two silver objects. "One
appeared approximately 3000 feet above the aircraft dead ahead, the other much
higher at the one o-clock position. Both appeared solid silver ovals, ie no
wings." Most likely Viscount and Electra aircraft which were in the area.

Report of UFOs by Qantas flight 363. Course 275 degrees mag at
20,000 feet. Shortly after sunset. "Single vapour trail appeared to north west
travelling east became seven distinct contrails apparently made by large
aircraft in loose formation Second pilot also recalls that at approximately
longitude 166E this morning on the Sydney to Wellington flight he noticed what
he considered as eleven ships in group on his radar screen." RNZAF-radars at
Wellington and Ohakea had nothing at height within 15-200mls. Except "angels" S
of Wellington speed 100kts. Copy passed to US Air Attaché. Search of the area by
aircraft on 14 January revealed nothing, except an unusually large number of
high density cloud radar contacts. Up to 10 at a time were obtained at ranges up
to 70Nmls.

In the early hours of the morning a DC-6 radioed Townsville
control tower that it was being "buzzed" by a UFO. The object was described as
spherical in shape, flat on top and the bottom. Exhaust gases were reported
coming from the object. It is said to have paced the aircraft for some ten
minutes during which the captain took photographs. The object then moved ahead
of the plane and disappeared. An official "cover up" is reported to have
occurred.

Captain B J O'Neill was piloting a Cessna with a student V T
Salmon when he saw a stationary light which changed colours red/white/green and
cycled through these colours. A check with Brisbane revealed no known traffic.
The VHF and HF communications were lost with Brisbane. The light appeared
airborne and flying on a similar heading to his aircraft. Sighting finished when
the light faded into the distance on W horizon. Contact with Brisbane was again
possible from 0945Z.

Ansett pilot saw lights ahead and below his plane. Three objects
in an approximate V formation 20-30 degrees below his horizon. Aircraft heading
317 degrees. At first his plane appeared to be overtaking them. Then they seemed
to draw ahead of plane. Last five minutes appeared to be overtaking them again.
Took on the appearance of two smaller objects in formation with a larger one. As
came closer larger object took on the appearance of a large jet aircraft with
swept back wings. As plane got closer right-hand smaller object disappeared.
Minute later "could see that the remaining two objects were in fact large metal
buildings just south of Dandenong."

Travelling by aircraft sighted what took to be a "large mob of
birds" ahead. The "mob" was dense in the middle and strung out in echelon to
either side, dark grey in colour and tended to concertina in and out
horizontally. Another "mob" was seen 45 degrees to starboard.

A man was flying at 20-30,000 feet in the company of three other
aircraft, each having two pilots. They sighted an unknown aircraft in their
airspace. One of the planes diverted to intercept the unknown. As they got
within 8km of it, the object took off at speed, in a southerly direction. All
eight pilots had witnessed this object, so they filed a report of the incident.
Later other reports were filed regarding similar sightings in the area. They
were later informed that the object had been an RAAF Neptune (a plane that does
not fly over 10,000 feet) on an exercise.

White light seen by aircraft pilot while landing. Moved E. Lost
upon aircraft descent.

(Pages 214-215 of digital copy of RAAF file 580/1/1 part 10)

22 August 1968 Zanthus WA 1740hrs 10mins 2M Smith & Gardin

Aircraft VHRTO was flying a charter run between Adelaide and
Perth. Was at 8000 feet, 190-195 knots, tracking 270 degrees magnetic. Gardin
saw a UFO and woke Smith. Ahead of the aircraft at the same level and 50 degrees
to the right of Smith's seat, Smith said:

I saw, a formation of aircraft. In the middle was a large
aircraft, and formatted to the right and left and above, were 4 or 5 smaller
aircraft. Kalgoorlie DCA advised them there was no traffic in the area. Then
radio communications were lost. Main ship split into two sections still
maintaining the same level, and the smaller aircraft then flew out left and
right. At this time there appeared to be about 6 smaller aircraft taking turns
of going out and coming back and formatting in the two halves. Sometimes the two
halves joined and split, and the whole cycle continued for 10 minutes. Smaller
craft had a constant cigar shape. At 0950 GMT the whole formation joined
together as if at a single command. Then departed at a tremendous speed,
departed in about 3 or 4 seconds, diminishing in size till out of sight.

Weather was fine, no haze above 5000 feet, 2/8 alto stratus to
the south. Immediately after the departure of the objects radio communications
resumed.

RAAF pilot in a Sabre aircraft saw an object below and to his
left. Thought it was a Mirage aircraft, which travelled rapidly and was lost
into cloud. Seemed to be just above cloud tops which were at 5000 feet. Pilot
checked Melbourne radar and Avalon airfield -- there were no aircraft in the
area.

(Pages 20-23 of digital copy of RAAF file 580/1/1 Part 9.
[Refraction of light in canopy])

18 October 1968 Darwin NT 1417Z 7mins RAF aircrew

A RAF Hercules aircraft no. 9651 took off from Darwin. When at
1500 feet, heading 290 degrees, the crew made a visual observation of a light
which they took to be another aircraft. This aircraft showed white lights
"Presumed to be those from fuselage windows." But did not have any navigation or
anti-collision beacons.

This aircraft crossed the path of the Hercules
from right to left in front of the Hercules. The crew estimated its height to be
2500 feet. The radar on the Hercules indicated a target at 15 miles range,
estimated speed 200 knots, travelling on a heading of 230-250 degrees magnetic.
Its estimated size was at least that of the Hercules. No unauthorised aircraft
were in the area.

A check revealed that ground radar was not operating
at the time. No additional information was gained from DCA, Met, Navy, Customs
or ASIO. No unscheduled aircraft landed at Broome, Derby, Port Headland or
Wyndham.

In a memo dated 1 Nov 68 Penrith to Dept of Air ref 5/2/7/Air
(86) & 5/15/1/Air (26). "The fact that the sighting was made by
experienced RAF aircrew and detected by the aircraft's radar leaves very little
doubt that an aircraft was in the area. As the aircraft has not been identified,
the possibility of the violation of our national airspace cannot be discounted."

Airline pilot. Bright white round balls with 2-3 very small
incandescent balls trailing. Lost in mid-air.

(Pages 208-209 of RAAF file 580/1/1 part 11)

5 Jun 69 Launceston Tas 0637EST (3-4secs) 1M Reinke NL

Aircraft pilot was at 16000 feet when he saw a blue light 45 deg
E just disappeared. [RAAF: a meteor]

(Pages 17-19 of RAAF file580/1/1 part 12)

August 1969 Adelaide SA Radar only

A final year trainee at Adelaide airport was tracking a Fokker
Friendship en route to Kangaroo Island. Near Edithburgh a radar paint appeared
twice the size of the Fokker. As the plane approached a smaller paint emerged
slowly into a direct collision course. The objects passed by without incident.
The smaller paint moved back to the larger paint. In one radar rotation the
paint moved 70nm. And within two radar rotations was out of radar range.

(D McNamara "AURA Hotline" 3792 of 27 Dec 2004)

5 Aug 69 18NM NW of Melbourne Vic 0907z 15mins 4wits incl
Rothwell NL

40 year old airline pilot and first officer plus 2 hostesses were
at 18000 feet and climbing saw a green fluorescent light 30 deg port of aircraft
tracking 322 deg M az. Approx 20-30 deg el. 2-3 times size of full Moon.
Stationary. Last seen from 10NM E of Bendigo at 18,500 feet same position
elevation and azimuth. Gradually faded from view. [RAAF: WRE (Weapons Research
Establishment) sodium vapour rocket experiment]

(Pages 101-107 of RAAF file 580/1/1 part 12)

31 Aug 1969 Northern NSW

A RAAF Canberra bomber chased an object reportedly seen by
hundreds of people on the ground. The object was described as an "aluminium
zeppelin." It was said to have been seen for three hours.

An aircraft crew sighted a bright white light on the ground about
sixty five nautical miles south-south-west of Alice Springs. The RAAF concluded
it was a natural gas burn off at Palm Valley.

(p180 of RAAF file 580/1/1 part 13)

23 May 1970 200nm SE of Townsville Qld 1810hes 1M Knott NO

An aircraft captain reported what appeared to be a searchlight
beam of great intensity, estimated to be in the Alice Springs area. The RAAF
concluded it could have been a natural gas burn off.

(pp109-111 &116 of RAAF file 580/1/1 part 13)

29 Jun 70 Sepik River PNG 1720hrs 1M Keog Radar

Pilot of F27 aircraft VH-FNK reported radar observation. On
descent from 12,500 feet noted echoes on radar 60 deg green to abeam his plane.
Radar scale set at 180nm and echoes appeared to be 60nm from plane and keeping
station with him. There were five cigar-shaped objects. With the radar scanner
on maximum depression or elevation the echoes disappeared. DCA advised there
were no aircraft in the area.

Flying an aircraft tracking 325M at 8,500 feet QNH at 150 knots.
Sighted two objects for 2 minutes, one vertically above the other at 270
relative. Same level as his aircraft-colour alternated between red and green. At
nearest approach they were at the same level as the plane + or - 1,000 feet,
converged and moved towards rear. Moved through 10 deg in 20 secs. There was a
stationary phase for 2 mins relative to the plane. Last seen-disappeared 20nm SE
Katherine and re-appeared 5nm Katherine for 30 secs. Finally lights went off "as
if light switched off." RAAF conclusion on form is : "The cause (or likely
cause) of the sighting cannot be determined." File note: "Mr John Middleton,
DCA Katherine, received an earlier report, from four more witnesses, by phone,
from a work social club. He reported that the witnesses sounded sober and
reliable. He will attempt to get names on 23 Jul 70.

Flying aircraft at 200 feet crop dusting and saw two lights in
the sky. Pilot flashed his aircraft lights at them. Lights sat off wing on
parallel course. One light faded other light lost as dull speck on W horizon.

Pilot of an aircraft Cane saw an orange LITS below his aircraft.
The object paralleled the aircraft's track for some 10 mins then appeared to
move at right angles to the plane. Noted at 5/6000 feet, below the aircraft.
Aircraft speed was 155kts. Object maintained same speed for 10 miles. Last seen
25 miles from Melbourne below the aircraft almost abeam to Port. Lost as
aircraft entered cloud. No radar trace. [Cause cannot be determined may
have been a "reflection from VH-FNQ finally affected by approaching Sunrise."]

(pp106-110 of RAAF file 580/1/1 part 25)

19 Jun 1973 Mornington Peninsula Vic

An orange light was sighted from an aircraft. It travelled
parallel but at a lower altitude for about sixteen kilometres before moving off
at right angles. The RAAF concluded it was a reflection of the Sun rising from
light aircraft.

The flight engineer of a commercial jet flying between Melbourne
and Perth sighted a falling green object slightly ahead and to the right of the
plane. It looked like a falling flare. Another aircraft five minutes ahead also
reported the same object. The same thing was seen by the crew of a Fokker F-27
near Ardrossan, several hundred kilometres away. Investigations revealed they
had sighted Cosmos 582 re-entering the atmosphere.

(UFO Research SA)

4 Apr 1975 Cairns Qld

The tower asked an approaching pilot to look for a UFO to the
north. A light was seen which mainly appeared stationary, but at times
oscillated.

Two crew members of a Neptune aircraft at 3000 feet reported
seeing a group of three lights passing in front of them. They travelled
horizontally at high speed. The pilot took evasive action to avoid a perceived
collision. The observation lasted ten to fifteen seconds.

(1. RAAF files. 2. Bill Chalker. (1982).
UFORAN 3(4):23-24)

4 Nov 1976 Near Brisbane Qld 1900hrs

An Air Traffic Controller noticed a stationary light in the sky.
The crew of an Electra aircraft then noted a light changing colour green to red
to green again, appearing to move up and down. Another pilot saw a red and green
object. Brisbane and Eagle Farm radar stations picked up stationary unidentified
returns.

A passenger and the pilot of a BPA Trilander flying between
Cunnamulla and Brisbane saw what they thought was another aircraft approaching.
However a check with Air Traffic Control revealed no traffic in the area. The
pilot had to take evasive action as the unknown seemed on a collision course.
The UFO passed low over the runway and then moved away to the south-west.

They landed and while refuelling saw it hovering to the south-west.
Passengers on the ground had seen the object pass soundlessly at low altitude
over the runway.

Half an hour later when they took off the object paced
the plane for a while then was lost to sight in the south-east.

(UFORFNQ)

9 Dec 1977 Kunanurra NT 1730hrs

Mr Lindsay McKenzie-Smith and his wife were flying in a Cessna
206 at 1675 metres, when they saw an object approaching, below their height. It
passed below them and disappeared behind them. It was oval in shape, appeared
metallic and seemed to be nine metres long by two to three metres wide and
probably one metre thick. It had well defined edges and a dull surface. The
object flew sideways just like an aircraft wing.

(UFORFNQ)

3 May 1978 Port Augusta SA

A light aircraft pilot heard over his radio that another aircraft
had sighted a bright light which had also apparently been picked up on the
aircraft's radar. No direct confirmation of the event could be made.

(UFORSA)

21 Oct 1978 Bass Strait

Twenty year old Frederich Valentich disappeared whilst flying
from Melbourne to King Island at 4500 feet. He reported that an unusual object
passed by his plane on a number of occasions. Despite a wide ranging search
nothing was ever found of the pilot or plane.

A pilot with 32 years experience was flying a Cessna 310. He was
over Alford at 8500 feet heading north-west when he sighted an oblong, white
light to the east-north-east. He turned into the circuit at Whyalla to land and
was unable to continue observing the object.

An air cargo L188 (Electra) aircraft was enroute to Brisbane from
Sydney. The crew noted two targets on their radar. These were estimated to be
forty nautical miles north-west of the plane. Sydney air traffic control
confirmed the targets and advised there was no known traffic in the area. Near
Newcastle, the targets vanished from the plane's radar. The total duration of
the observation was fifteen minutes.

(UFORFNQ)

9 Jun 1985 Mt Newman WA 2000hrs 20 mins

Two pilots flying a Budget Charter Navajo twin engine aircraft
had left Mt Newman and climbed to 10,000 feet when they observed a bright orange
light approaching from the West at a fast rate of knots. At first they thought
it was an aircraft going into Mt Newman, but after checking they realised it was
not an aircraft.

After the initial sighting, the object had stopped dead
and pulled away from them, dropping to about 2000 feet. The pilots stayed at
10,000 feet. The light stayed with them for 20 minutes before disappearing.

(WAUFOIC)

15 Jan 1987 Corryong Vic

A commercial pilot flying a twin-engine Aero Commander from
Canberra to Moorabbin was overtaken by a "mystery light" which paced his
aircraft until he reached Eildon. The light then shot away from his aircraft,
rapidly accelerating towards the east.

(ACUFOS Reports Digest Dec 1987. No. 28)

21 July 1988 near Wycliffe Well NT Near day break

A light aircraft pilot was flying on a clear day with good
visibility, at 5500 feet in a S-SW direction. At a position 25n.m. south of
Wycliffe Well the pilot saw movement at an angle of 45 to his track. There
appeared a dull, silvery frosty, disk/round object. It was travelling quite
slowly and he could see an elongated shadow on the ground. The pilot radioed
Alice Springs Flight Service and asked if there was any known traffic in the
area. At this point he flew over the top of the object, which suddenly
accelerated towards a nearby range of hills. It then curved to the right, turned
on its side and just vanished on the spot.

(Keith Douglass-Alice Springs)

5 Jun 1989 Dorrigo NSW

Two pilots tracked an object at 4000 km/h on an aircraft's
weather radar. The jet cargo aircraft's crew noted a big return on the radar.
Over a period of four minutes it travelled from sixty nautical miles ahead, to
off their screen in a straight line track.

(Bill Chalker)

30 Jan 1994 Brisbane Qld

50km from Brisbane two passengers on Ansett flight AN071 noted a
flat, white object, like a cloud in the shape of a dish, which approached the
aircraft from the rear. It seemed to be 4-5m in length and 1-2m thick. It was
travelling fast and passed under the plane.

(PRA Journal Mar 1994 pp11-15.)

21 Mar 1997, Coolangatta Qld 1340hrs

A passenger in a Sydney to Brisbane flight was passing over
Coolangatta on descent to Brisbane when they saw a long, thin, dark grey cloud
to the East and out to sea. It was estimated to be 1km long. It then changed
shape and divided into segments, becoming more hazy. A bright white light
flashed twice from one end of the object. Except for this cloud, which could
have been well out to sea, the sky was clear. The witness contacted ATC but was
advised there were no aircraft in the vicinity at the time.

(UFORQLD Encounter No 175. Note: QUFON
received an almost identical report but dated 4 Apr 1510hrs.)

29 Sep 1997 Jacobs Well Qld Ca2359hrs 1min

Pilot Rob Hill and another person were flying Brisbane to Lismore
in a helicopter, when they saw an unusual object, with three lights on it. These
lights were evenly spaced along its side. The Pilot is quoted as saying: "It
seemed to be flat and then it tilted like an aircraft banking and disappeared."
Brisbane ATC advised no other traffic was in the area.

(The Northern Star 3/10/97 pp1&2. My copy
courtesy Wendy Murfitt.)

1 Oct 1997 Northern NSW NL

Pilot Wayne Fisher was flying a helicopter, between Brisbane and
Lismore at 7000 feet, on a clear night, when the chopper was bathed in white
light, which came from above and behind. Two other people were onboard, a Dr
Margo Harbison and a Steve Van Bratt. Brisbane Air Traffic Control had no other
aircraft in the vicinity.

(The Northern Star 3/10/97 pp1&2. My copy
courtesy Wendy Murfitt.)

8 Nov 1998 28km NW Perth Aerodrome WA

Occurrence number 199804923. occurrence id 164236. 8 Nov 1998.
28km NW Perth, Aerodrome. WA. The pilot reported an unidentified flying object,
bright red/orange in colour 100ft below and travelling very fast as the aircraft
passed 9,000ft. Then object was approximately 2 metres across and the pilot
believed that it may have been a model aircraft.